Antiskidding device for motor vehicles



Jan 6, 1931. M L. K. ANSELL. 0

ANTISKIDDING DEVICE FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed Oct. 9. 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 A Tm/EWZY Jan 6, 1931. L. K. ANSELL ANTISKIDDING DEVICE FOR MOTOR VEHICLES 3 Sheets-She et 2 Filed Oct; 9. 1929 Arrozewzv Jan 6, 1931. L K. ANSELL 1,787,608

ANTISKIDDING DEVICE FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed Oct. 9. 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Jan. 6,1931

Louis 7K. ANSELL, or

.s'r. LOUIS, mrssounr flmrrsxrnmne nnvionronivro'ronvnnrcnns Application filed October 9,

This invention relates generally to antiskidding devices for vehicles, and particularly to devices of this type which may be moved into and out of operative position at the wheels of vehicles by the operators of said vehicles, without said operators leaving their seats at the controlling mechanism of the vehicles, the predominant object of the invention being to provide a simple device of this type which will function with the maximum efliciency. V Fig. 1 is a plan view of the chassis of a motor vehicle equipped with my improved device. Y a

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken through the rearv axle of the vehicle illustrated in Fig. 1 and looking in the direc- 4 of the annular member'l is a carrier 6 (Figs. '4 and 5), said carrier being: capable fof-rotary movement with respect to said member 70 1, and anti-friction rollers 7- are interposed between the carrier 6 and the member 1 so tion of one of the'rear wheels. of said vehicle. Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the approxi- 2- mate scale of Fig. 2 showinga rear wheel and rear axle ofa vehicle equipped with my improved device. I F Fig. 4 is an enlargedsection on line H of ig. 3. j

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional detail'illustrating the mechanism for actuating "the ground contacting elements of my device.

Fig. 6 is a section of the switch for controlling the operation'of the-groundcontactirig elements of the-device v In the drawings, wherein is shown for the purpose of illustration, merely, one embodiment of the invention,"and referring particularly to Fig.1 of said drawings, A desig- 'natesthe chassis of a motor vehicle,,which is provided with the usual front wheels "B, rear wheels C, and rear axle D on which the rear 7 "Wheels 0 are supported. Each of therean wheels Chas associated with it' -the usual braking mechanism comprising a brake housing E, non-rotatably fixed to the rear axle D, and a braked rum (not shown) which is rotatable with the associated rear wheel andis disposedfor such rotary movement within the brake housing E. 1 V o Fixed to each of the bralre housings E at the rear wheels of the chassis" A shown in Fig. 1, is an annular retainingimember .1 which, as shown most clearly in Figs. 3 and 5,.

is provided. with. .an-..outwardly-extended 1929. Serial No. 398,420.

flange portion 2, saidfiange portion having an. inwardly extended, annular supporting flange 3 formed thereon, as shown in the views referred to. At the side of theannular member'l' opposite to the side thereof at which the flange portion 2 is located I proa vide a. flange portion 4;, which is similar to the flange portion 2 and is provided with an inwardly "extended annular, supporting flange 5 resembling the supporting flange 3430 already referred to. The flange portion 4: is removably attached to the annular member 1, being" secured thereto by suitable fas-- tening devices, an'd'the supporting flange .5 thereofis alined horizontally with the supportingflange 3 of the flange portion2.

Disposedbetween the flange portions 2 and as: to facilitate this rotary movement.

Spaced circumferentially of the carrier 6 is a walls 9, and end walls which areprovided by annular upstanding flanges 9 and 10 arranged respectively at opposite sides. ofthe carrier 6 (Fig. 5). Located within each of 0 the guideways 8. and adapted for longitudinal sliding movement withjrespect to. the side walls thereof isa rack 11. The rack 11 arranged :in each guideway 8 contacts with the side walls; of the guideway and is guided thereby, and 12 and 13 designate coil springs which are located at opposite ends ofthe; rack, the coil spring. 12 being interpo'sedbe "tween the rack and the upstandingflangelO of the carrier 6, and the coil spring 13. being i interpo'sed'betwe'en said rack and the upstanding fiange 9 of the carrier. j

1 L designates an annular plate which is supported by the inwardly extended flanges 3 and 5 on the flange portions 2 and 4, respectively. The annular plate 1 4: is capable'of rotary movement with respect to flanges 3 and 5, anti-friction balls 15being employed to. facilitate this movement (Fig. 5 At the location ofj each ofthe guideways 8 the annular plate 14 is providedwith an aperture 16, and fixed to said annular plateat.

opposite sides of each of said apertures is a pair of supporting bearings 17 (Fig. 4).

upporte-d in eachpair of the bearings l7 is a,

short shaft 18, and fixed to each of said shafts 18 is aground contacting element 19. Each portions 20 are disposed betweenthe'bearings' 17 so there are spaces at the opposite sides of said reduced portions. Fixed to each of the shafts 18 in the spaces at the opposite sides of the reduced portion 20 is a pair of pinions 21, said pinions being arranged in mesh with the teeth of an associated rack 11, and each of said racks having a pair of rows of teeth with which the spaced apartpinions-mesh as shown in Fig. 4.

By referring to Fig. 2, it will be noted that one of the ground contacting elements 19 is shown in section, and an examination of this element reveals that each ground contacting element includes an inner member 22 of -which the reduced portion .20 forms a part. 23 designates a tubular element which surrounds the'member 22 and extends outward- 1y. therefrom, said member 22 being provided being telescoped thereinto'. Themember 2'? is provided with an offset ground contacting -porti0n28which 'as show'n clearly in Fig. .3

of'jthezdra-wing's, is movableto a position where itisarrangedadjacent to the periph-L -eral i'acev of the tire of the associated rear wheel C of the vehicle A. Each tubular elewith apin 24 which extends through a slot 25 in the tubular element,.whereby the tubu-' lar element is connected to the member 22 in tubular element 23, said member'26'being hollow at its forward end and a: member 27 mentj23 at its'outer end is provided with a slot29 which extends longitudinally there 7 of, and each member 26 is provided with 'a which extends through the slot 29 oi the-associated tubular element,- fwhereby. said parts are connected together in-a manner to permit "longitudinal =movement ofithe member 26 with respect to the tubular element AlsOQtiCh'member. 26 at-its forward end is provided with a. slot 31 into which a pin32,

carried by the associated member 27, ex-

itends, said slot being extended transversely to the axls of said member 26. Interposed between'each member 22 and the-associated member 26 is an expansible and contractile coil spring 33,'andinterposed between portions of the member'26 and the member 27 is a torsional coil spring 34, the opposite ends said rods as shownin Fig. 2.

the single. motor M of which torsional coil spring are connected as shown in "Attached to theannular element 35 and extended outwardly therefrom is'a plurality oi'rods" 38, there preferably being four of p v w 39 designates a plate (Fig. 3)v which is provided with a centrally disposed opening 40 through which the. rear axle D of the vehicle A extends. One of these plates is located adjacent to each rear wheel C of the vehicle, and each plate '39 has L-shaped brackets 41 attached thereto to which the rods .38 are fixed. Each of the plates 39 is provided with apertures 42 through which supporting brackets 43 extend. 1 The brackets 43 are fixed to the nonrotatable brake housingE, and-at their outer.

ends said brackets are secured to substantially U-shaped elements 44(Fig. 2), which are attached to the annular-retaining element 1. The brackets 43 and U-shaped elements 44 serve to rigidly-fix the annular retaining :elementlto the brake housing E.

Extended outwardly "from each plate 39 is .a screw-threaded stem 45, said stembeing -rigidly'fixed to said plate as shown in Fig. 3. a manner to permit of slight rotarymovement of the tubular element withrespect to the member 22. i 26 designates a member 7 which telescopes within the outer end of each 46 designates a sprocket'wheel provided with -an elongated hub port-ion 4?,said hub portion having a screw-threadedrecess formed therein intowhich the screw-threaded stem 45 extends. .The sprocket wheel 46 is suppo'rted for rotary motion by a bracket 47"- fixed to and supported by the rear axle housing D ofthe vehicle. Supported by the chassis of the vehicle is an electric motor M, -.sa id motor. having a sprocket wheel 48 fixed to the drive shaftthereof, and a sprocket chain48'operates oversaid sprocket wheel 48' and over the sprocket wheel 46 already referredto. The drive shaft of" the motor M at "the end thereof opposite to theend at 53"designates a sprocket chain which-operates oversaid sprocket wheel 52, and, said sprocket chain operates also over a sprocket wheel (corresponding to the sprocket wheel 46) located'atthe rear .wheel C opposite to that illustratedin Fig. 3. The mechanism illustrated in Fig. 3 is duplicated at the opposite rear wheel, hence :actuates both sets oi mechanism. f l

54 designates a clutch element (Fig. 3)

which is 'secured to the .rotatablebrakedrum by brackets 55, anol'56 designates a clutch element which is connected to a block 5? fixed to the carrier 6. As will presently appear herein, the clutch element 56 is movable into and out of engagement withthe clutch element 5% in response to transverse movement of the carrier 6 with respect to the annular retaining element 1.

Mounted on the instrument board F of the vehicle A (Fig.1) is an electric switch 56 which is constructed as illustrated in Fig. 6. The switch 58 includes a central supporting member to which independently operable elements 60 and 61 are pivotally attached. The switch elements 60' and 61 are urged forwardly by coil springs-.60 and 61, respectively, and said switch elements have push. buttons 62 and 63 associated therewith whereby said switch elements may be moved rearwardly against the action of the coil springs into contact with the binding posts 64: and 65, so as to make electrical contact between the conductor 66 (Fig. 6), leading to the hinge point of said switch elements, and the conductors 67 and. 68 leading to the binding; posts Maud respectively. The motor M is so wired as to be capable of actuation in opposite directions, and the switch element 60, when moved into contact with. the binding post 64, will cause said motor to be operated in one direction while movement of the switch element 61 into contact with the binding post 65 will cause the motor M to be operated in the opposite direction.

When, in the operation of a motor vehicle equipped with my improved device, the ound contacting members 19- are notin use, said members are withdrawn from the positions in which they are shown by full lines in Fig. 3 to the positions in which said members are illustrated by dotted lines in said view. Assuming that the ground contacting members 19 are in their retracted positions as illustrated by dotted lines in Fi 3, and it is desired to move them to their operative positions, the push. button 62 of the switch 58 will be pressed inwardly to cause the switch element to make contact with. the

binding post 6st, whereby an electrical circuit leading to the motor Wlll be completed and said motor will be causedto operate, with the result that the sprocket wheels 4:8 and' 52 will be rotated. The rotary movement of the sprocket wheels 48 and 52 will be-transmitted by the sprocket chains 48 and 53 to the sprocket wheels associated with the screwthreaded stems d5 of the plates 39 atthe wardly. I The racks-11 are movable with the carriers 6, hence the inward movement ofthe carriers through the instrumentality of said racks will cause the pinions 21 to be rotated,

' shafts 18-t0 which the ground contacting elements are fixed, the outer ends of said ground contacting elements will be swung-in an arc of a circle about the shafts 18, so as to move the portions 28 of the ground contacting elements 19 to positions adjacent to the periphcry of the rear ground wheels C, as illustrated by full lines in Fig. 3.

hen the ground contacting elements '19 are in their inoperative positions, all ofthe mechanisms associated with the rear wheels C, with the exception of the clutch elements 54,- aremaintained in a stationary or how rotatable condition. However, when the carriers 6 are moved inwardly as described, the clutch element 56 will be moved into contact with the clutch elements 54; which rotate with the rotatable brake drums, and this contact between said clutch elements will cause the carriers 6 (together with the racks and other parts associated therewith) the annular plate i i, and all of the ground contacting element-s 19 to rotate with the brakedrums of the vehicle, and thereforethe respective rear wheels C and the ground contacting elements.

associated therewith will rotate as units.

The co l springs 12 and 13 associated w1th the racks 11 (Fig. are of such strength that under ordinary conditions they provide unyielding connections between the racks and the carrier 6. Howev e", if during transverse movementof the carriers any of the ground contacting elements are prevented from moving, the carriers may continue to move while the ground contacting elements and racksare held fast, the coil springs at one or the 0pposite side of the racks yielding to permit such movement otthe carriers. This is apparent in connection with the ground contacting elements at the upper portion ofthe rear wheels C, as when the ground contactme; wheels C areretractedl they are stopped by portions of thefenders G-oi" the vehicle before they reach their completely retracted positions. This, however, as already stated, does not prevent the carriers 6 from completinp; their entire movements s As already statedf,the motor M is wired.

so that it is operableinopposite directions,

and when it is desiredto, move thegrbund contacting elements from their operative pos1tions,'as showniby full lines in Fig. 3, to the inoperative or dotted. line positions of said' ground contacting elementsin said View, the push button 63 oft-he switch 58 is depressed, whereby an electric circuit is completed whichincludes the conductors66 and 68 (Fig. 6). This circuit causes the motor. M to be actuated in the opposite direction to that in wh ch it is actuated when the'push button elements the upper portions of the 62 depressed, wherby the carriers 6 will be moved-outwardly and the racks 11 will ro-f tate the pinions 21 in a direction to move the outer ends of the ground contacting elements inwardly with respect to the rear wheels C.- NVhen the ground contacting elements 19- i are moved inwardly with respect to therear wheels C. 'the'ground contacting'elements at the upper portions ofthe rear wheels contact with the tenders G, as already described, and

are thus arrested in their movement. The re mainder of the round contacting elements, however, move to the dotted line position of theground contacting element 19 at thelower illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. This deflector comprises an arcuate plate 71, which supports a plurality of anti-friction rollers 72. The plate 71 is provided with upwardly extended rods 73 which are telescoped into tubular elements 74-. said tubular elements forming parts of a bracket 75 which is secured by suitable means to the reara-Xle housing D of the vehicle A. 76 designates coilisprings,

which are arranged within the tubular elements 74c and tend to force the rods 73 outwardly with respect to said tubular-elements.

The rods 73 and tubular elements are connected together by slot and pin connections, as illustrated at 77'1n'F1gJ2. 1- p When the push button 63 is depressed to move the round contactin elements 19 to retracted positions, the'portions 28 of at least two of said elements 19 assoc1ated with a wheel C will be confined between the associated wheel and the ground, and this will prevent rearward inovement'of said ground contacting elements with-respect to the wheel.

This, however, will not prevent the carriers 6 from being moved. as certain ofthe coil" springs'associated with the racks will yield and permit movementoi' the carriers whilethe rest-rained ground contacting elements are held fast, and ass-eon as the erestrainedground contacting elements are released the com+ pressed springswill move them to their re tr'acted positions." After the disengagement of the cliitch elementsfii and there will'be V some rotation oi the ground contacting elements, and as the radially extended portions 280i said retracted elementscontact with the V deflectorw and said elements continue to rotate Vwith respect to said defiector,.the no 'fj'will be dr 7 god along tlie rollers1 2 supported by the arcuate plate 71, whereby the memcrank at the V mesh."

bers 27 will be rotated axially with'respect I to the'members 26 with which they telescope, and the portions 280i said members 27 will be turned so as to be substantially parallel with the ground. This has the efiject of winding up the torsional coil. springs 3e asso ciated with the ground contacting elements in contact with the deflector, and when said ing portions located at the lower portions of the wheels C are turned so that they are remotci'rom the ground, whereby likelihood that said portions will be struck by obstacles in the road is very greatly reduced. It is also plain that the telescoping arrangementof the ground contacting elements 19, together with the coil prings 23, permit said elements to yield with the tires of the vehicle wheels as they contact with the ground.

The offset ground contacting portions 28 of the elements 19 have plates 28 removably fixed thereto by means ofsuitable fastening devices 28, whereby said plates may be removed for replacement when desired. Also, the plates 28 are provided with sharpened, case hardened projections arranged thereon, which will bite into the ground.

It is obvious that instead of utilizing a motor for. moving the elements 19 to operative. and inoperative positions, I may employ a simple mechanical arrangement which will permit of said operations being performedmechanically by manipulation of a simple position of the operator of the vehicle. V I v I I claim:

1. An anti-skidding device for a vehicle wheel comprising a plurality of pivotally supported ground contacting elements movable from retracted positions to positions adjacent to the periphery of a vehicle wheel,

and means for subjecting said ground con tact-ing elements to such movement, said means including toothed elements arranged for rotary. movement with the vehicle wheel and movement parallel with the axis thereof, and toothed elements associated with said pivoted-ground contacting elements with i which the first mentioned toothed elements able from retracted positions to positions adjacent to the periphery'of a vehicle wheel,

and means for subjecting said ground contacting elements tosuch movement, said means including racks arranged for rotary movement with the vehicle wheeland movement parallel with the axis thereof, and pinions arranged at the pivotal points of said ground contacting elements with which said racks mesh.

3. An anti-skidding device for a Vehicle wheel comprising a plurality of pivotally supported ground contacting elements movable i'rom retracted positions to positions adjacent tothe periphery of vehicle wheel, and means for subjecting said ground contacting elements to such movement, said means including raclrs arranged for rotary" movement with the vehicle wheel and movement parallel withthe axis thereof, pinions arranged at the pivotal points of said ground contacting elements with which saidracks mesh, a carrier'for supporting said racks, and means for imparting movement to said carrier in a direction parallel with the axis of the vehicle wheel. V

5. An anti-skidding device for a vehicle wheel comprising'a plurality of pivotally Supported ground contacting elements movable from retracted positions to positions adjacent to the periphery of a vehicle wheel, and means for subjecting said ground contacting elements to such movement, said means including racks arranged for rotary movement with the vehicle wheel and movement parallel with the axis thereof, pinions arranged at the pivotal points of said ground contacting elements with which said racks mesh, a carrier for supporting said racks,

and means for imparting movement to said 7 carrier in a direction parallel with the axis of the vehicle wheel, said means including a non-rotatable plate connected to said carrier in a manner to permit rotary movement of said carrier with respect to said plate.

6. An anti-skidding device for a vehicle wheel comprising a plurality of pivotally supported ground contacting elements movable from retracted positions to positions adjacent to the periphery of a vehicle wheel, and means for subjecting said ground contacting elements to such movement, said means including racks arranged for rotary movement with the vehicle wheel and movement parallel with the axis thereof, pinions arranged at the pivoted points of said ground contacting elements with which said racks mesh, a rotatably supported carrier for supporting said racks, means for imparting movement to said carrier in a direction parallel withthe axisof said vehicle'wheel, said means including a non-rotatable element connected to: said carrier in a manner to'permit rotary movementof said carrier. with: respectto said non-rotatable element, a screw threaded member associatedwith saidnonrotatable element, and. a rotatable screwthreaded element arranged to impart movee ment to said screw-threaded member in a direction parallel with its axis.

-74 An anti skidding device for av vehicle wheel; comprising a plurality of pivotally' supported ground contactmgelements movable from retracted.positionsto. positions ad? acent to the perlphery' of a vehicle wheel,

and means for subjecting said? ground. con-- tacting elements to such movement, said means includingi racks arranged. for rotary movementwith the vehicle wheelandamovement parallel withthe axisithereort, pinions arranged at the pivoted points of said racks mesh, a rotatably supported carrier Ior supporting said racks, yieldable conned ground contacting elements with which said i i tions between said racks and said carrier, I

means for imparting movement to said carrier in a direction parallel with the axis of said vehicle wheel, said means including a non-rotatable element connected to said car-- rier in a manner to permit rotary movement 8. An anti-skidding device for a vehicle,

wheel comprising a plurality of pivotally supported ground contacting elements mov-' able from retracted positions to positions adj acent to the periphery of a vehicle wheel, a

rotatable element with which said ground contacting elements are associated, a clutch element fixed to said rotatable element, a clutch element movable with said vehicle wheel, and means for moving one of said clutch elements into engagement with the other to cause said rotatable element to rotate with the vehicle wheel.

9.An anti-skidding device for a vehicle wheel comprising a plurality of pivotally supported ground contacting elements movable from retracted positions to positions adjacent to the periphery of a vehicle wheel, each of said ground contacting elements comprising a pair of telescoping members yieldingly connected together for longitudinal movement with respect to each other, and an element telescoping with one of said telescoping members and arranged for rotary movement with respect thereto, a torsional coil spring associated with said element, and means for subjecting said ground contacting tive positions. 1 i r 10. An anti-skidding device for a vehicle Wheel comprising a plurality of pivotally supported ground contacting elements movable from retracted positionsto positions adelements to movement into and out of opera;

ja'cent to the periphery of a vehicle wheel, each of said ground contacting elements 7 comprising a pair of telescoping members yieldingly connected together for longitudinal movement with respect to each other, and

' an element telescoping with one of said telescoping members and arranged for rotary movement with respect thereto, a torsional coilspring associated with said element, a deflector for imparting movement to said element, and means for subjecting said ground contacting elements to movement into and out of operative positions. v In testimonythat I claim the foregoing I hereunto affix my signature. 7 LOUIS K. ANSELL.

memos 

